THE BALKANS

Otago Witness, Issue 3085, 30 April 1913, Page 29

THE BALKANS

THE CAPTURE OF SCUTARI. NEW PHASE OPENED UP. DANGER OF COMPLICATIONS. VIENNA, April 24. A general assault on Scutari began on Monday morning, following a thirty-six hours’ bombardment. The Turks made an heroic resistance, and their quickfirers mowed down hundreds of Montenegrins at the Droitza. fort, but fresh reinforcements arrived, and an irresistible rush carried the position. Count Berchtold has addressed a note to the Powers demanding the evacuation of Scutari in 43 hours. CETTINJE, April 23. It is officially reported that the Montenegrins have .entered Scutari. It is officially stated that after the capture of Tarabosch Essad Pasha opened up negotiations, and the garrison left the town later with its arms. April 24. Vast crowds cheered the King of Montenegro, who received the Allies’ congratulations. The Turkish ammunition was almost spent when Essad Pasha surrendered. Tarabosch was taken without a shot being fired. April 25. King Nicholas, addressing a rejoicing crowd, declared that Scutari was Montenegrin territory henceforth. Conversing with the Russian Military Commissioner, Kirg Nicholas said the fall of Scutari had ci eated a new situation, which would have to be reckoned with everywhere. If Europe thought of taking away Scutari, foi which Montenegro had almost bled to death, Europe would be forced to carry oat the operation herself. The Montenegri is captux-ed 120 guns at Scutari. LONDON, April 27. Reuter’s corre.- pondent advises that General Vukotich s first interview with Essad Pasha laste 1 a day. Essad Pasha rejected the demand to surrender all his artillery. A further bombardment followed. then King Nicholas sent General Vukotich with instructions to treat the Turks chivalrously. Twenty-six thousand of Nazim Pasha's troops, 5000 Bashi-Bnzouks, and 458 officers, including a number of Austrians, surrendered. Prompt orders were given to occupy the Austrian and Italian Consulates and the Cathedral, whence to distribute foed. During the last days of the siege a threatening mob followed Essad Pasha, shouting “Bread or surrender.” There were great rejoicings at the success of Montenegro in Athens, Belgrade, and St. Petersburg. Scutari i<s illuminated, and wine has been distributed in the streets. Maimed soldiers left the hospitals to participate in the rejoicings. ROME, April 25. The fighting before Scutari was desperate. The Montenegrins lost 3000 killed, and the Turks 5000. THE NEW ALBANIA. VIENNA, April 27. It is stated that the Powers have agreed that the ruler of the new Albania shall be stvlcd King. CETTINJE, April 27. Essad Pasha has proclaimed himself King of the Albanians at Alessio. According to one refßa-t he has placed the kingdom under the Sultan’s sovereignty. PARIS, April 27. According to the Temps’s correspondent, Essad Pasha’s capitulation at Scutari was so arranged with the Montenegrins as to enable Essad to proclaim himself Prince of Albania. Essad Pasha belongs to a great Albanian family. April 28. The Due Montpensier announces that he resolutely declines the recent offer of the Albanian throne. He states that no crown would induce him to relinquish his two titles—those of a French citizen and a French prince. Essad Pasha’s proclamation as King of Independent Albania is confirmed. He has 40,000 troops, including Djavid Pasha’s 10,000. Djavid Pasha becomes J'.ssaJ Pasha s War Minister. The storming of Scutari was a farce, Essad Pasha surrendering after making a compact with King Nicholas, the latter to obtain Scutari, and Essad Pasha to take the remainder of Central and Northern Albania. BELGRADE, April 28. The alliance between Essad Pasha and Kin" Nicholas prorides for Montenegro keeping Ta-abosch and the Boyana Valley, while the town of Scutari becomes Albanian. The fact that Essad Pasha has a great following among the Albanian tribes assures his success. Servia is a party to Essad Pasha's plan. King Nicholas is transporting heavy guns from Scutari to the lovnoen Mountains. The partial withdrawal of the Servians from Albania signalled an outbreak among the Albanian Mohammedans on the rightbank ot the Devoii. They attacked the Christians on the left bank.

THE POWERS AND MONTENEGRO. ST. PETERSBURG, April 25. Many newspapers predict a European conflagration in the event of Austria s isolated action. PARIS, April 23. The Temps’s Belgrade correspondent advises that Servia has informed the Powers that should Austria, with or without Europe’s mandate, take the field against Montenegro the four Allies will unite against her. LONDON,ApriI 24. In the course of a speech at the Foreign Press banquet Mr Asquith said h© believed that an honourable and peaceful settlement of all questions raised by the war would soon be reached. The Westmister Gazette, quoting from Russia’s warning to Montenegro on the 11th instant, does not believe that Russia will oppose the Powers’ necessary action in upholding their decision regarding Scutari: April 26. The Ambassadors’ Conference discussed the question of Scutari. It is understood that it was decided firmly to uphold the previous decision. There is no evidence of Austria’s desire to precipitate matters. BERLIN, April 27. In the Reichstag the Foreign Minister (Herr Von Jagow) stated that the Powers had intimated that the capture of Scutari would in no wise alter their previous decision at the last conference. The Ambassadors had now decided to call on King Nicholas to evacuate Scutari, and if he does not comply further steps will be considered. LONDON, April 28. The latest Continental messages still show official optimism concerning the vitality of the European Concert. Russia has orally given friendly counsel to Austria to refrain from precipitate action inasmuch as the means of persuading King Nicholas to respect Europe’s wishes are not exhausted. There are indications that the statesmanship of the Emperor of Austria is now playing a great role in the maintenance of a pacific policy. The representatives of the Powers at Cettinje, including Russia, have presented a demand for the evacuation of Scutari. Essad Pasha received a great welcome at Alessit A dad at. BULGARIA AND GREECE. SALONIKA, April 21. When the Bulgarians retired after the conflict with Greece at Tigrita, they arrested a Greek priest and a number of notables in a neighbouring village. Several of the bayoneted bodies of the prisoners have since been found in the Struma river. LONDON, April 23. The Chronicle's Salonika correspondent reports that Greece and Bulgaria are rapidly drifting to war. The Bulgarians are concentrating at Arama. A division each from Chataldja, Adrianople. and Bulair has arrived. The Servians are reassembling north of Salonika ready to help the Greeks April 25. The announcement made at Salonika of the sudden withdrawal during the next three days of all Bulgarian troops to Senes is interpreted in diplomatic circles in London as being gravely connected with Grieco-Bulgarian differences. The Greeks latterly have concentrated a considerable force in the vicinity of the port, and the Bulgarian commander at Serves was probably alarmed over his isolated position and his comparatively small force there. The withdrawal is not interpreted as an abandonment of Bulgaria’s claim to the port. Further developments are awaited with anxiety. Advices from Corfu state that Servian heavy artillery, which arrived from San Giovanni, has been despatched to Salonika. Eleven transports at San Giovanni are embarking troops for Salonika. ATHENS, April 25. The population of C'orvtza has elected six Christians and four Moslems as a deputation to Europe to protest against being severed from Greece and annexed to Albania GREECE AND SALONIKA. ATHENS, April 21. Greece insists on the retention of Salonika, with a hinterland sufficiently deep to defend the town and to assure its commercial prosperity. April 22. Though the Allies have accepted the Powers’ offer of mediation they reserve for discussion the questions of the cEgeaa Islands and the final frontiers of Thrace and Albania. The reply by the Allies asks the Powers to admit the principle of the payment of an indemnity. CORFU, April 23. The Bishop of Durazzo has appealed to Sir E. Grey and M. Sazonoff (the Russian Foreign Minister) for the protection of Christians. Since the Servians have withdrawn 16 have been murdered in the Pckinye district. SUSPENSION OF HOSTILITIES. CONSTANTINOPLE, April 23. Turkey has arranged with Servia and Greece for tho suspension of hostilities and the repatriation of prisoners.. 1 The Greeks are withdrawing from the

islands and are concentrating their troops at Salonika. April 26. There is uneasiness in Armenian circles at Adana, where the phenomena preceding the 1909 massacres have again been observed. April 27. The Porte has selected London as the place of signature for the peace preliminaries. THE DEATH BOLL. SOFIA, April 21. A semi-official estimate of the war losses gives the following figures : Killed and wounded : Bulgaria 84,000 Servia 22,000 Greece 11,000 Montenegro 6,000 Total 125,000